Overclock Q9450 or Upgrade?

[Brukes]

Hey -

I bought a GTX 560 about 6-7mos ago and the performance increase was great (from a 9800GT), also got more RAM. However, it's just about time for an upgrade, but figured I'd explore overlcocking.

Current Sytem:

Dell XPS 420
CPU: Q9450 (Core 2 Quad @ 2.67ghz)
Mobo: OEM
PSU: OEM (425W)
Ram: G. Skill 2x4gb DDR2 SDRAM 800 - PC2 6400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207
Video Card: GTX 560 1GB
HD: 1TB 7200 RPM
OS: Windows 8 - 64bit

So, I want to get a new system, and when I do, I'm looking to spend 1.5k - 2k, and I'd like to explore overclocking. I'm a casual gamer, mostly Total War Series - so I'd like a system that can play Rome 2, and hopefully the next 2 after that, really well. My plan is end of year, to do a new system build on my own (and my first). Until then, I thought it would be fun to try overclocking my new system to practice and get a little more life out of it. My thought is that: for less than $200, I could practice overclocking now and get some more life out of my machine, plus possibly reuse the PSU/Case that I have to buy.

My question then is, am I being stupid? Am I overlooking anything? Should I just upgrade now instead of trying this out?

I'd need to get a new motherboard:

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-G41MSPT&c=CJ

Do I need new RAM? I'm looking at some of the OC'ing guides and understand the math behind it Rating = FSB x Multiplier; but with DDR2 RAM, the most I'll get that to run at is 400. Since the current FSB on the Q9450 is 333, is it correct to think that without buying new RAM, the most I'll get up to is 400FSB? Effectively making the max rating to be 400x8 = 3.2Ghz? Effectively a 20% increase over the current 2.67ghz

Thanks in advance for looking at this - I really appreciate any advice.

 

[schmuckley]

oooo..oo..Don't get a g41 mobo..and definitely not from ewiz/superbiiz.
You'd need a p35/p45/x38/x48 chipset to overclock properly.
Good 775 boards are very hard to come by nowadays.
By the time you get one and RAM (maybe) It's probably not worth it.
Unless you find a decent board for like $60 or something.
I'd say just hold out til IB-E (Sept) or..(maybe) AMD

 

[unmateria]

Mine is stable at 3.4 since 5 years ago with a cheap tacens radix 700, and an asus p5k3 deluxe (ddr3 with p35), 4x2gb DDR3. I use it hours and hours a day,... sometimes cracking hashes with 100% of cpu and 100% radeon 6770, and most time rendering. I cant remember the last problem or the last blue screen since years. I use a 3930k too, and well... in real life, the difference is not like in benchmarks. I mean... lightroom runs a little better, photoshop more or less the same, edius is true that is faster especially rendering.

If i were you... I would go for a decent water cooling solution that goes with your 775 and next socket 2011, and I would run the rest of the 9450 life at 3.8 or somewhat XDDDDDDD